Junior doctors in Sierra Leone have begun an indefinite strike following an assault on one of their members.

Dr Catherine Jackson-Cole was assaulted on Tuesday at the main referral Connaught hospital in Freetown, allegedly by officials of the health ministry including the country’s deputy health minister, chief medical officer and the permanent secretary who tried to stop her from filming a protest by cleaners who’ve themselves been on strike for over a week. The cleaners were demonstration against non-payment for almost a year by a contractor who says he’s not received his money from the health ministry for 15 months. 

President of the Junior Doctors Union of Sierra Leone Dr. Unisa Jalloh tells WADR’s Atiewin Mbillah-Lawson that his colleagues will not return to work unless the assaulters are punished and sanitary condition at the hospital is improved.